Posted on July 03, 2024 in Criminal Defense

When someone is arrested and charged with a crime in Texas, he or she is booked into a county jail while a court date is set. By default, the defendant — the person charged with the crime — is meant to remain in jail until the trial. However, to allow people to continue living their lives in the weeks or months before the trial, the law offers most defendants an option called "bail."

This article will discuss what bail is, how Texas courts determine bail amounts, and how you can challenge a court’s bail decision. Keep in mind that hiring a Texas bail lawyer is key to successfully navigating the bail process.

What Is Bail?

If you are charged with a crime, a court will likely give you the option of getting out of jail by paying the state a certain amount of money. This money is called bail, and it serves as a deposit to make sure you do not run away or commit a crime again before your trial. If you do everything you are supposed to do and show up to all your court appearances, the bail money should be returned to you after the trial.

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 Posted on June 26, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Discipline is an important part of a child’s upbringing. Kids naturally test boundaries, and adults are supposed to reinforce those boundaries.

Some adults use corporal punishment, such as spanking, as a form of discipline. And while it has long been believed to be an effective technique in some cases, today’s child abuse laws are blurring the line between spanking and abusing a child. If you have been accused of crossing that line, contact a Texas criminal defense attorney right away.

While the article below explores whether parents have a right to spank their children, this update will discuss whether teachers in Texas may spank kids in schools.

Texas is one of many states that allow teachers to administer corporal punishment to students. This means that a teacher can spank, paddle, hit, or slap a student for disciplinary purposes. However, there are three cases in which spanking a child is illegal in school:

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 Posted on June 18, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Marijuana laws across the nation have changed dramatically over the past decade or so. Currently, there are:

• 25 states where marijuana is fully legal

• 13 states that have legalized marijuana only for medical use  

• Four states where marijuana is fully illegal

• Two states where marijuana has been decriminalized

• Seven states that have legalized CBD with THC only.

The state of Texas falls in the last category as one whose laws have legalized only CBD with THC. This means that marijuana laws remain in place, making it illegal to possess, distribute, or traffic the drug. These laws are generally severe and could result in jail or prison time, even for small amounts of marijuana.

Should you find yourself on the wrong end of the law with marijuana charges hanging over your head, it is time to contact a criminal defense attorney with significant experience defending drug crimes. You may be overwhelmed and unsure of how to protect your future. A strong, compassionate lawyer guiding you through the process can significantly affect the outcome.   

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 Posted on June 11, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Solicitation of prostitution used to be a Class B misdemeanor. This means that anyone who was convicted of a first offense of solicitation of prostitution faced up to 180 days in jail and a fine not exceeding $2,000. Someone who was convicted of a second offense was charged with a Class A misdemeanor and faced up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $4,000.

But that all changed in September 2021. Now solicitation of prostitution is a state jail felony, while actual prostitution still remains a Class B misdemeanor. This means your rights are even more at stake, which is why it is more important than ever to seek a Texas criminal defense attorney if you are accused of solicitation of prostitution.

What Is Solicitation of Prostitution?

According to Texas law, solicitation of prostitution is when someone “knowingly offers or agrees to pay a fee to another person for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with that person or another.” In other words, merely offering to buy sex is a felony even if the transaction does not take place. 

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 Posted on June 04, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Many people aspire to be famous athletes. After all, being a well-recognized NFL or NBA player comes with major perks. In addition to the large paycheck, these players get endorsement deals, free entrance to some of the most desirable clubs, hotels, and concerts, and live lifestyles that most of us can only dream of.

But in other ways, professional athletes are just like everyone else. They also make mistakes, face problems like divorce and addiction, and sometimes even break the law. When famous athletes are accused of crimes, they need an aggressive, experienced criminal defense attorney who is not intimidated by the players’ fame or the prosecutor’s efforts to make an example out of them.

Here is an update to our blog about some of the worst crimes committed by NFL players, including crimes they have been convicted for in the last five years.

• Henry Ruggs III — Henry Ruggs, a former wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders, was sentenced to at least three years in prison in August 2023. Ruggs was accused of killing a woman in a fiery car crash when he was driving drunk at speeds up to 156 mph. Ruggs pleaded guilty to a DUI felony.

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 Posted on May 29, 2024 in Criminal Defense

There is something that teenagers are often told as they take their test to get a driver’s license that still rings true in adulthood: driving is not a right but a privilege. There are many laws about driving, and if you are found in violation, you might get the privilege taken away. If you are accused of committing a crime, injuring others on the road, or reckless driving, the court has several options. It might revoke your license permanently, temporarily suspend your license, or order an indefinite suspension of your license. This article will examine what happens when a license is indefinitely suspended and what you can do if that happens to you. Of course, if you are facing this possibility, you should speak with a skilled Collin County, TX criminal defense attorney to understand how best to protect your rights.

How Does a License Get Suspended in Texas?

There are two types of driver’s license suspension in Texas:

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 Posted on May 21, 2024 in Criminal Defense

If you have ever been charged with a misdemeanor in the state of Illinois, it will remain on your criminal record. If anyone does a background check on you for university acceptance, real estate purchases, or employment, something you did in the past can have serious consequences on your present and future. The good news is that some criminal records are eligible for expungement, meaning your criminal history can essentially be erased. This is not a simple, straightforward process and is even more confusing if you are trying to do it on your own without legal expertise. If you have been wanting to get a misdemeanor expunged from the record, speak with an experienced Collin County, TX criminal defense attorney who can review your case and help you navigate the process.

Can Every Misdemeanor Be Expunged?

The short answer is no. Not all misdemeanors can be expunged from a criminal record. To understand whether your misdemeanor can, you need to answer three questions:

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 Posted on May 10, 2024 in Criminal Defense

When you hear that the police suspect you of committing a crime, it is only natural for you to try and make yourself appear innocent however you can. There are many kinds of evidence. Some things might be able to prove beyond any doubt that you were the perpetrator. Other types of evidence might be more circumstantial and might only indicate that you had anything to do with the crime when taken into consideration with many other factors. You might be tempted to try to get rid of that evidence if all the other factors do not put you under any suspicion. However, altering, concealing, or destroying evidence is its own crime, otherwise known as evidence tampering. Instead of helping you, tampering with evidence is taken very seriously and you will likely pay for it heavily later on. If you have questions about tampering with evidence, speak with a skilled Collin County, TX criminal defense attorney to get answers.

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 Posted on May 06, 2024 in Criminal Defense

House arrest is a commonly known phrase you may hear on TV and in movies. However, most people are not familiar with what it actually means. House arrest can be granted for specific criminal offenses. You might be allowed to serve your term as house arrest rather than jail time, but have some additional restrictions or other penalties in exchange. If you are interested in house arrest as an option for your sentence, speak with a passionate Plano, TX criminal defense attorney to find out more.

House Arrest in Texas

House arrest is one option for a sentence for a criminal offense. If you are ordered to serve a term of house arrest, you must stay at your home or another residence approved by the court for the duration of your sentence. You might not need to stay inside the residence at all times, but there are guidelines regarding how far from it you can be and for how long.

There are very specific circumstances under which house arrest can be considered as a punishment. If you meet the conditions, you can request house arrest instead of jail time. If your request is approved, you will receive a list of restrictions you must abide by for the duration of your sentence. This list commonly includes details about certain hours of the day you are required to be home and when you are allowed to leave.

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 Posted on April 29, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Child identity theft allegations can have a profound impact on Texas families, leaving accused individuals facing the possibility of criminal charges and lasting repercussions. It is a serious matter that demands attention and a strong defense. However, you must remember that an allegation does not necessarily equate to guilt. If you find yourself facing child identity theft allegations, a Texas lawyer can help you understand your rights and the steps you can take to challenge the accusations and protect your future.

What to Know About Child Identity Theft in Texas

Under Texas law, child identity theft occurs when someone uses a child’s personal identifying information, such as their name, Social Security number, or date of birth, without the child’s consent. This crime is covered under Texas Penal Code Section 32.51, which defines the offense as “fraudulent use or possession of identifying information.”

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